Description:

Good pair of scarce, late-war Allied propaganda leaflets in German, dropped by air over the German-occupied U-boat base at the French port of La Rochelle and the stronghold on the Ile de Oleron. The first example, 2pp. 8vo., addressed to "German Officer and Under-Officers of the Fortress La Rochelle", announces that their war is over and their fate is in Allied hands, and warns them that any destruction of port facilities or stores will be considered sabotage and punished accordingly. The verso reprints the ultimatum given to the French commander at the Tunisian port of Bizerte prior to its surrender to German forces in 1942. The second example, 1p. 8vo., addressed to "German officers, under-officers and soldiers of the island of Oleron", cites the recent surrender of German naval forces elsewhere in France and the Allied occupation of several German cities, including Magdeburg, Leipzig and Nuremberg, and urges the defenders to choose life over death and surrender to the besieging Allied forces, who will treat them in accordance with the terms of the Geneva Convention. Both show slight soiling, else very good. Oleron would be taken by Free French forces on April 29, 1945, with la Rochelle falling on May 8 with the overall surrender of German forces in Europe, becoming the last French city to be liberated.

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May 1, 2019 10:00 AM EDT
Elkton, MD, US

Alexander Historical Auctions LLC

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